Definitions for "Front-End Loading"
A sales charge paid when a PPP, AVC, FSAVC, Endowment or other investment is purchased. It can amount to the whole of the first two years' contributions. Have a very good reason indeed to buy an investment product with heavy front-end loading charges. See Mis-Selling.
The initial sales charges that you have to pay when you invest in a mutual fund, such as, a unit trust. This charge is mainly for the cost of the adviser.
A common practice among investment and insurance companies that sees them charge the bulk of fees in the early months of a new savings plan. The advantage to them is that they get their money upfront. But for the saver it means that real returns are low and sometimes negative in the first months.